InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Saving the World: One Hanyou at a Time ❯ Good With Pets ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

Good with Pets

 

School was hard. It was long, boring and just plain hard.

 

Sure, some of the people in her class were cool, especially the new boy. But that wasn't enough to make up for the wretched chemistry test that was scheduled for today.

 

Dawn stood in front of the TV eating peanut butter straight from the jar with a butter knife. She never made it to school. Instead she waited in the park until it was time for Willow's class and snuck back home. `Screw school. I don't know how anyone can concentrate on anything with all the wackiness that goes on around here anyway.'

 

Dawn had already written the note that would excuse her own absence. It was true, she'd long give up shoplifting but a girl had to have some hobbies and forgery was a good one. Though it was hard to tell if she was really good at it, considering that most authority figures in Sunnydale chose to turn the other way or were deeply stupid.

 

Like how her English teacher Mr. Welch never seemed to notice the jocks were cheating. Or when the coach chose to overlook the troll who joined the football team. Dawn like to see her school win as much as the next girl but she had to draw the line when she caught it behind the gym eating cats. So much for school spirit.

 

Dawn was watching Passions, a show Buffy and Willow would not be caught dead watching; though that was a literal for Buffy. It had something to do with the characters lacking morals and not living in the real world. `As if Sunnydale was the real world. Hell, I've only been alive for two and a half years. Is there even a ruler around her we can use to measure normality? If so I bet it'd have to resort to negative numbers.'

 

Dawn scoffed at this thought and dug into the jar for more peanut butter; the ruler analogy reminded her too much of school.

 

She tried to concentrate on the Soap Opera or story as Anya called it. But it was useless. Her goldfish Spot had more depth than anyone on the TV screen.

 

Dawn groaned and tossed the remote on the couch. She went into the kitchen and drank milk straight from the carton. `I am such a rebel!' She giggled. “All other rebels shall bow be me, Queen of the Revolution!”

 

That's when she heard a loud crash in the basement. Something crashed to the concrete floor. `What the hell? Oh my God this is so bad. So very, very bad.'

 

Her thoughts flew back to a few months ago when she was home alone and saw what she thought was her mother's ghost.

 

Dawn scooted her pink Converse sneakers silently across the kitchen floor to the basement door. She knelt down and listened.

 

“Awww… Who in the bloody hell are you?”

 

Silence.

 

Then, “Get the `ell out of my fucking brain!'

 

Dawn placed her hand over her pounding heart. It was only Spike. Buffy must've tied him up downstairs before she left.

 

No big. But it was odd that he was awake this early in the day. `I wonder how long he's been down there? Jeeez… no one tell me anything around here!'

 

She slowly opened the door and crept down the first two steps and peered into the basement.

 

Spike was handcuffed to the black metal support pole in the middle of the basement. He was shirtless, his chest marred with healing scar tissue. He was yelling at someone Dawn couldn't see.

 

_-_-_-_

 

Spike eyes were still swollen from the last encounter he'd had with the thing that moved in skull.

 

He squinted in the soft light filtering through the basement windows, at the male figure before him.

 

This was something new. The man was Asian but not Chinese or human. Spike had fond memories, even now, of the Boxer rebellion and knew this man claimed a different land.

 

Long silver hair swung down his back and white furry dog ears sat atop his head. His golden, gilt eyes studied Spike through black slit pupils. `I hope this bloke wasn't striving for scary… he's just fucking adorable.'

 

Spike lifted his head, “Do I know you man? Who the fuck are you?”

 

Of course no answer came. Spike bellowed, “In my skull, you're here in my brain... ya ain't real!” His words echoed off the gray brick walls of the basement.

 

The doggie ears reminded him of someone… Clem that was it. Except this fellow was a mite better looking than the unfortunate Clem.

 

Spike slammed his chains against the metal pole, Bang! Crash! He pointed blindly at the strange demon. “Fucking figment's all you are! Fucking figment…”

 

The dog man stepped forward and raised a clawed finger to Spike's nose. “You are weak.”

 

It or he spoke English? This was unexpected and more proof that he wasn't real.

 

Spike hissed, “Weak? Mutt I'll show you fucking weak.” He closed his eyes and pulled hard on the handcuffs. “Blood! It's the blood, always in the blood.” He could have snapped the cuffs easily but needed them to help him maintain his focus.

 

The demon chuckled and tossed his silver head, “William no wonder she left you. Wanna know where your right hand girl Goldilocks is?”

 

Spike took a deep breath and shook his head.

 

The dog demon stuck his face in Spike's as he whispered, “She with me. Under me, on top of me… we've tried it every way imaginable.”

 

He grinned flashing a set of pointed canines, “She's mine now you English Pussy. You've been thrown over for a dog.”

 

Spike lifted a bruised brow and laughed. His thin chest shook with it, “A bloody dog? You're just a big puppy you are. Buffy was never so good with pets. I'd be careful were I you. Ever seen Fatal Attraction?”

 

He leaned closer to the false apparition and hissed, “She's going to boil your ass.”

 

It barked back at him, “Those are brave words from someone who can't fight back. But it's true. I've had her and she ain't coming back.”

 

His eyes flashed red and Spike frowned at this unsettling development.

 

He lifted a clawed hand and reached out towards the vampire. “She likes to bite, bark and rrrrip.” He snapped his teeth after the last word.

 

Spike opened his eyes. “Dru? Darling are you in there?”

 

The silver haired demon laughed and Spike groaned, “Ah now, you are just the beastie and not real…NOT REAL!”

 

A small squeak came from the wooden basement stairs and fear blossomed in the vampire's cold chest. “It's the Bit… This ain't for Bits or pieces… Don't worry after me.”

 

His tormentor smirked, “It true what she said, your Slayer. You really are crazy.”

 

Spike countered, “Maybe but my marbles are all here. All here!”

 

The dog demon raised it's arms and it's male stature fell away as it morphed into a familiar tiny brunette in a scarlet Victorian dress.

 

She snapped her black polished fingers, “Spike. I'm coming for you my pet. Just wait. Mommy's coming… it'll be over soon.” She clucked her tongue and crooned over him in false pity.

 

_-_-_-_

 

Dawn sat frozen squatting down on the step. She wrapped her arms around her knees. 'So that's Drusilla…'

 

She wanted to charge down the steps and help Spike. He'd rescued her countless times and she owed him. Dawn tried to make her feet move but they refused to listen.

 

`Okay my feet have left me…what else can I do?'

 

She dug into her jeans pocket and pulled out the cell phone. She backed up the stairs and into the kitchen while she pressed speed dial.

 

`Xander will know what to do… and he might be persuaded not to tell Buffy I was cutting school…again.'

 

_-_-_-_

 

Buffy sat in silence as Miroku relayed their experience to the others.

 

Inuyasha was his usual helpful self, “Feh. What does this yellow haired man have to do with us?”

 

He gestured towards Buffy with his thumb, “I ain't rescuing her boyfriend.”

Miroku jumped in. “That's no my point. I think Buffy's right. This First of hers is Naraku.”

 

The group sat in stunned silence. They didn't need it spelled out.

 

Buffy spoke, “I think you beat him. But it came back in my time. Now it's not corporeal, it's like a ghost. You must've taken down it hard because it's had five hundred years to rest up and see through is the best it can come up with. No mass.” Buffy's fist clenched, she preferred things she could pound with her hands.

 

Kagome studied her can of warm green tea. “Still… seems pretty bad to me.”

 

Sango found strength the knowledge they would eventually win but she wished she knew the cost. “I think we should all stick together. No one goes off anywhere without anywhere without someone else.”

 

Buffy chuckled, “The buddy system. I like it.”

 

Miroku reached for Sango's hand, “Sound's good to me.

 

Sango slapped his hand away. “I will stay close to Buffy. This thing seems to be centered around her so she might appreciate the extra help.”

 

_-_-_-_

 

 

Buffy leaned back into the cushioning of the thick grass and studied the endless clear blue sky. It was chillingly ironic that so much darkness could take place on a sunny day. But then she was used to doing most of her fighting at night.

 

She turned to Kagome, “It'd be nice to pop back and tell Giles about this Naraku. I bet his books are chocked full of good information.”

 

Kagome gave a perky answer. “Wish granted. We are heading to Grandma Kaede's near the Bone Eaters well. I'll email or call Mr. Giles while I'm home.”

 

Buffy frowned, “Can I go with you?”

 

Kagome explained, “The well won't let you pass without a fragment of the Shikon no Tama.”

 

Inuyasha cut int. “Don't even ask.”

 

He narrowed his eyes at Buffy, “It'd be a waste of our time. Kagome can go alone.”

 

He wanted the Slayer bitch no where near any part of the Shikon no Tama. Also Buffy seemed to attract fiendish things he wanted kept far from his Kagome.

 

He hated that this enemy wasn't flesh and blood or something else he could pound to death with his fists or the Tetsusaiga.

 

Buffy conceded, “Okay but Dog boy were you born this pissed off or has someone jammed that silly sword up your behind?”

 

Miroku covered his mouth with his bead-bound hand and coughed.

 

Inuyasha was reaching for Buffy with his talons fully extended when Kagome mouthed the S sound. He grumbled and fell back.

 

Sango stood and stretched, “Well that settles it. We will go back and find out what your friend can tell us.”

Buffy was wondering why only Kagome was able to sit the Inu-hanyou. She glanced up at Sango. “Good, let's roll. The sooner I can get home the better. She rubbed her arms. `Every moment counts.'

 

Inuyasha snorted, “Worried about your boyfriend?”

 

She nodded, “This thing is after everyone I care about. I'm always worried.”

 

Inuyasha grunted his approval. Protecting the ones who depended on her was something he could respect. “Let's get a move on. If this Giles can help us kick Naraku's ass than I wanna contact him as soon as possible.”

 

_-_-_-_

 

Sango and Miroku rode on Kirara's back. Inuyasha took Kagome on his back. Buffy was climbing onto Kagome's bike when she heard Inuyasha grumbling.

 

She glanced back and saw Kagome whispering to the malcontent hanyou.

 

He nodded and turned to Buffy with a grimace. “You aren't too big. This'll go much faster if you just leave the bike behind and ride on my back with Kagome.”

 

When Buffy didn't jump at his offer he added, “But if ya don't want to…”” Kagome kicked him lightly in his side.

 

Buffy pretended not to notice and asked, “Okay but what about the bike?”

 

Kagome waved it off, “Oh that's okay. Sango or Inuyasha can come back for it later. We pass through here a lot.” She pressed her forefinger to her lips in thought. “Maybe Koga will find it and bring it back for us.”

 

Buffy had no clue who Koga was but at the mere mention of his name Inuyasha turned eight shades of purple. She felt an annoying Anya-ish question coming to her lips but pushed it away.

 

Inuyasha bent over and Buffy swung onto his back behind Kagome. It was amazing he was strong enough to carry both of them.

 

He leapt high into the air and flew through the trees. Buffy held on tight and closed her eyes.

 

The wind whipped Kagome's hair back into Buffy's face and mouth. She sputtered and spat it out as she prayed she wouldn't get a bug in the face.